About Waitohi -Picton
Welcome to Picton – Gateway to New Zealand’s Marlborough Sounds
Nestled on the northern tip of New Zealand’s South Island-Te Waipounamu, Picton, together with Waikawa Bay forms a vibrant port town renowned for its stunning scenery and friendly atmosphere. As the main gateway to the Marlborough Sounds, Picton offers the perfect starting point for exploring one of the most beautiful and diverse marine environments in the world.
Things to Do in Picton:
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Scenic Boat Rides: Catch a boat from Picton to explore the Marlborough Sounds, with breathtaking views of inlets, hills, and lush coastline.
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Wildlife & Marine Tours: Join boat trips and wildlife cruises to see dolphins, seals, penguins, and even whales in their natural habitat.
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Cycle & Walk Trails: Discover the local beauty on walking or cycling tracks that wind through native forests, scenic coastlines, and charming bays.
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Local Cuisine & Wineries: Savor fresh seafood and explore nearby vineyards in Marlborough’s famous wine region, renowned worldwide for its Sauvignon Blanc.
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Historic & Cultural Sites: Visit local museums, art galleries, and discover the rich history of the area, including Maori heritage.
Why Visit Picton?
Picton’s charming waterfront, stunning natural landscapes, and welcoming community make it an ideal destination for nature lovers, adventure seekers, and those seeking a relaxing escape. Whether you’re embarking on a boat tour, enjoying fresh seafood, or simply taking in the scenery, Picton offers a memorable experience.
Waitohi / Picton is Marlborough’s second-largest town, with a population of 4,790 (as at June 2021).
This aerial photograph shows the Picton and Waikawa townships that merge together near the head of the Queen Charlotte Sound.
The small harbour to the right of Picton is Shakespeare Bay, where the Cruise ships dock.
The headland separating the 2 marinas is known as The Snout is home to many bike tracks and short walks.
The Snout is known to local Māori as Te Ihu Moeone.
Picton is a family and dog friendly destination.
For the youngsters we have the Foreshore, minigolf, mini railway, and playground.
The Skatepark area also povides basketball and volleyball opportunites.Located next to a large open dogpark which sits on the side of the Waitohi river.
There are a number of picnic areas and playgrounds for families to enjoy.
'Te Weranga o Waitohi" is the original Māori name for Picton
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Te: meaning "the".
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Weranga: referring to the energy or power of the sacred waters.
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o: meaning "of".
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Waitohi: Refers to the sacred stream and a ritual that happened there
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Wai: Means "water".
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Tohi: Refers to the sacred tohi ritual of a warrior's baptism or blessing ceremony - warriors would undergo the tohi ritual before battle which involved a tohunga (expert) dipping karamu branches in the sacred water and brushing a warrior's right shoulder, symbolizing preparation and blessing before conflict.
In a world full of stress and noise, the Sounds offer tranquillity, peace and a landscape that has hardly changed since the arrival of Māori in the 1500’s and Captain Cook in the 1770’s.
Waitohi / Picton's History
The site of modern day Waitohi / Picton was originally a Māori Pā (fortified village) and it is believed to have been settled as early as the 1500’s. One of the earliest recorded Polynesian settlements is at the Wairau Bar near Blenheim, dating back to the 13th century.
Some early place names in Marlborough link the region with the demigod Māui, whose waka was the South Island (Te Waka a Māui).
Names associated with Kupe, the legendary navigator, are also found in the region. They are associated in particular with Kupe’s struggle in Tory Channel with the great octopus Te Wheke-o-Muturangi. They include:
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Te Whekenui, a bay
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[Te] Kura-te-au (Tory Channel), the channel red with the blood of the octopus
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Ngāwhatu-kai-ponu (the Brothers Islands), the octopus’s eyeballs.
Te Ātiawa Māori migrated from Taranaki around 1828 .the beginning of their conquest of parts of the South Island including parts of Nelson. The name Waitohi comes from the sacred waters of Te Atiawa Te Maunga Piripiri and references wai (water), and tohi - the tohi ritual, in which the tohunga dipped karamu branches in the sacred stream and brushed the right shoulder of warriors before battle.
Before Europeans arrived in the early to mid-1800’s much of what is now Waitohi / Picton was planted with kumara (sweet potatoes) with the Pa being located close to the water’s edge.
Sir Francis Dillon Bell from the New Zealand Company and Sir George Grey (then governor of New Zealand) purchased Waitohi from local Māori in 1850.
Māori relocated their pā to neighbouring Waikawa Bay, where Waikawa Marae is based today.
Francis Dillon Bell
Sir George Grey
In 1849 the site of Picton was first surveyed and the town was called Newton
In 1859, when Marlborough was established and Newton renamed Picton by Governor Gore Brown in memory of Sir Thomas Picton, who was killed at the Battle of Waterloo and made the provincial capital.
Thomas Gore Brown
Sir Thomas Picton
Picton quickly became a vital link between the South and North Islands, with wool, grain, fruits and meat being shipped to the North Island, Australia and to as far afield as London.
Many of Waitohi / Picton’s first streets were named after New Zealand provinces – as well as, English lords and counties. The town centre has Taranaki, Auckland, Wellington and Otago streets.
There is a Nelson Square alongside Devon, Oxford, York, Kent and Durham streets.The pattern of these streets when drawn on original maps represented the Union Jack Flag,In reality there are hills in the town that makes this less obvious from the ground.
In the 19th century, Waitohi / Picton was a bustling port and gold mining base for European pioneers and early domestic settlers.
Picton has continued to develop as a busy port for interisland ferries, cruise ships connecting North and South Islands.
Meretoto/Ship Cove
Meretoto (Ship Cove) in Endeavour Inlet, Queen Charlotte Sound is an iconic New Zealand Heritage site from where you can start or finish The Queen Charlotte Track.
Thought to have been first visited by Polynesian explorer Kupe, Meretoto was an area local Māori came to fish, gather food and rest after crossing the Strait between the islands.
Favoured as a shelter for provisions and repair by Captain James Cook for his ship Endeavour in 1770. Cook returned to the area 5 times spending more time at Ship Cove, than anywhere else, other than his home town of Whitby in England. The cove is much the same today as it was in Cook’s time.
Totaranui/Queen Charlotte Sound
Originally known as Totaranui, in 1770,Captain Cook claimed the area for the British and renamed the area Queen Charlotte Sound after King George III’s wife, Queen Charlotte (of Mecklenburg-Strelitz).
Queen Charlotte Sound / Tōtaranui was officially dual named in 2014 through two Treaty of Waitangi settlements.
Following Cook's visits and publication of his first voyage, the area attracted visitation and settlement from whalers and explorers. The whaling station at Te Awaiti was established in the 1820's and there were reported to be 100 Europeans there by 1838.
Many of these early settlers are descendants of local Picton families today.
Totaranui/ Queen Charlotte Sound is truly a majestic place to visit. Laced with beautiful sandy bays, secluded beaches, sheltered coves and ancient tree fern forests, the area is also home to the Queen Charlotte Track.
This 71kms walk can be completed in sections as a day trip or as a 3-4 day walking or biking tour starting either at Anikiwa or Meretoto/Ship Cove. Combining the best of New Zealand walking and biking with a seamless network of cruise and pack transfers, resorts and lodges and great food and wine.
Whether you’re here for one day or five, the Queen Charlotte Track is brilliant every day.
